GEORGE W. BUSH DELIVERS REMARKS AT THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES ANNUAL CONVENTION.

Original Source: Political Transcript Wire

PRESIDENT BUSH DELIVERS REMARKS AT THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES ANNUAL CONVENTION, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, AS RELEASED BY THE WHITE HOUSE

APRIL 26, 2004

SPEAKER: GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

[*] BUSH: Thanks for the warm welcome. Jessie, thanks for letting me come by and share some thoughts. You picked a great place to have a convention. What a great city Minneapolis is.

(APPLAUSE) I -- Jessie's right. I spend a lot of time at the community colleges around the country because I see the community college system in America as such a hopeful place, a place where people can gain the skills necessary to become employable; a place where people can gain the skills necessary to realize dreams. The community college system is accessible and it's affordable and it's flexible. It's a major asset of our country. And I want to thank those of you who are here who are leaders in the community college system around the country. I want to thank you for your dedication; I want to thank you for your spirit; I want to thank you for your vision; and I'm here to say "thanks" on behalf of all of America.

(APPLAUSE)

Not only do I want to talk about the role of community colleges in our society today, but I want to talk about the role of community colleges in the out years as we promote a new generation of American innovation. I'm going to talk about the need for us to develop an energy policy that is based upon new technologies, new hopes, that will enable us to become less reliant upon foreign sources of energy, and at the same time, continue to improve our environment.

I want to talk about the use of information technology to improve medicine and to make sure we keep the patients at the heart of the health care system. And I want to talk about affordable broadband technology so that America can stay on the leading edge of technological change.

First, Jess, thanks for leading this august group. He's Tejano. Nothing better to be in the presence of a Tejano. Jess told me coming in here that -- I asked him where he was raised. He said, Southern California. He said he didn't speak English when he came to America at age five. His dad had big dreams for him. And here he is, years later, introducing the President of the United States in perfect English. It speaks to the great hope of America, doesn't it? It speaks to our great society that says to Jess's dad, you can realize your dream here. You can raise your son. You son can be educated and rise to an important position in making sure America is an educated society. Jess, I appreciate your determination. But I really appreciate the determination of your good father to see that you have a chance to succeed in the greatest nation on the face of the earth.

(APPLAUSE)

I want to thank George Boggs, the President and CEO of the American Association of Community Colleges for hosting us. I know you're going to honor my friend Rich Carmona, who is the U.S. Surgeon General. Rich is a graduate of the community college system. He's an interesting guy. He's doing a heck of a good job for us. I'm proud that he has agreed to serve our nation. And I'm proud of the fact that you're honoring him. You've made a really wise choice. And whoever the judges are to decide that Rich was the right person, congratulations on such good judgment.

(LAUGHTER)

(APPLAUSE)

I want to thank the governor who has joined us today. The governor is a backer of the community college system here in Minnesota. Governor Pawlenty is doing a great job for the people of this state and I'm proud you're here, Governor. Thank you for coming.

I also want to thank Norm Coleman, the United States senator. He flew down with me today on Air Force One. I'm not suggesting he was looking for a comfortable ride...

(LAUGHTER)

... but he got one.

(LAUGHTER)

He's a good fellow who's serving the state of Minnesota well, as are Jim Ramstad and Mark Kennedy, members of the United States Congress. I really appreciate you all taking your time to come and honor the crowd here today with your presence.

I want to thank the Speaker of the House, the Majority Leader of the state House here in Minnesota for coming. I want to thank all state and local officials who are here. It's awfully nice for you to come out and spend a little quality time with your President.

(LAUGHTER)

I want to congratulate the 2004 New Century Scholars who are with us today.

(APPLAUSE)

Thanks for aiming high. Thanks for working hard. Thanks for setting standards. And congratulations on achieving one goal in what I hope is a productive and happy life.

I also met a woman -- lady today named Melissa DuBose. She is a high school student. She showed up at the airport. And she's there because I love to herald soldiers in the army of compassion. I love to point out to people these heroic stories of citizens who are trying to make the community and world a better place.

You know, oftentimes we talk about the strength of America, and one of our strengths is our military. I intend to keep it strong. Another strength is the fact that we're a wealthy nation, and that's good. That's important.

But the true strength of the country is the hearts and souls of our citizens. That's the real strength of America. Our real strength is because we're a compassionate nation where people have heard a universal call to love a neighbor like you would like to be loved yourself.

Melissa DuBose is such a person. She travels to Honduras to help people in orphanages. What a lovely spirit that is, isn't it -- a high school student here in Minnesota spreading love and compassion for those who need it in Honduras. Melissa is just one example of many in this community who help feed the hungry, find shelter for the homeless, mentor a child, or helping to change our country and our world one soul at a time. I don't know where Melissa is. Where are you, Melissa? There you are. Why don't you stand up. Thanks for coming, and God bless your work.

(APPLAUSE)

We have the strongest economy of any major industrialized nation in the world. And that is -- it's an amazing statement, when you think about what this economy and our country has been through. And the reason I bring that up is because I know how important the entrepreneurial spirit is; I know how important education is to the future of this country. And I believe it was the spirit of America and our education system, in part, that helped us overcome the challenges we face.

We faced a recession. And those are tough times, obviously. They're tough times for…